Governors of northern states the ruling All Progressives Congress Saturday night rose from an emergency meeting with the resolve to support the power shift to southern Nigeria.
The governors said in a statement that it would be fair and just to rotate power to the southern part of the country after the end of the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2023.
“After careful deliberation, we wish to state our firm conviction that after eight years in the office of President Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the APC for the 2023 elections should be one of our teeming members from the southern states of Nigeria,” the governors said in a joint statement.
“It is a question of honour for the APC, an obligation that is not in any way affected by the decisions taken by another political party. We affirm that upholding this principle is in the interest of building a stronger, more united and more progressive country.”
The statement was signed by the governors of Katsina, Niger, Nasarawa, Borno, Katsina, Gombe, Zamfara, Plateau, Kano and Kebbi states. Former Sokoto State governor Senator Aliyu Wamakko also signed the statement.
Jigawa State Governor Abubakar Badaru, who is contesting the party’s primary election, has since withdrawn from the race, the governors said.
“We, therefore, wish to strongly recommend to President Muhammadu Buhari that the search for a successor as the APC’s presidential candidate be limited to our compatriots from the southern states,” the governors said.
“We appeal to all aspirants from the northern states to withdraw in the national interest and allow only the aspirants from the south to proceed to the primaries.
“We are delighted by the decision of our esteemed colleague, His Excellency, Governor Abubakar Badaru to contribute to this patriotic quest by withdrawing his presidential aspiration.”
It is unclear if Governor Yahya Bello of Kogi State in north-central Nigeria will heed the appeal of his colleagues.
Ondo State’s Governor Rotimi Akeredolu said the resolution of the northern governors was a “heart-warming decision” and thumbed up Governor Badaru’s decision to withdraw from the contest.
“This is indeed another landmark achievement in our quest for understanding, rapprochement and continual engagements for mutual beneficence,” Akeredolu said on behalf of southern governors.
“We acknowledge this courageous stance for equity and moral rectitude. We applaud the zeal and determination of our brothers to engage realistically and honestly.
“We salute this uncommon resolve to confront issues militating against the march towards nationhood and ultimate greatness.”
